Former India National Cricket Team captain and BCCI selector for Cricket in India (BCCI), Dilip Vengsarkar has questioned the selection of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for the Australia ODI series.
Dilip Vengsarkar said that Ajit Agkar -led Selection Committee needs to call Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s future quickly as it is very difficult to assess players with a format.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli should be seen in action on Australia Tour
Both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will soon be seen in action in international cricket when Team India travels to Australia for a high-voltage white-ball series.
India and Australia will close the horns with each other in an ODI series of three-match ODI series and the five-match T20I series, characterizing Kohli and Rohit in the 50-over format, as it is the only format in which they are active.
The pair was last seen in action for India in international cricket in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, where they played an important role in the team’s victory.
Despite guiding India to the back-to-back ICC tournament Triumphs, the BCCI has decided to dismiss Rohit Sharma and convert him into ODI captain with Shubman Gill.
This means that both Rohit and Kohli will travel with the team as a pure batsmen with Australia and will play under the leadership of Shubman Gill, which will be the first example since 2016 that Kohli and Rohit will play together under a separate captain.
I think you can’t know the form and fitness of such players or can do justice – Dilip Vengsarkar
In a conversation with Mid-Day, Dilip Vengsarkar said that Kohli and Rohit have been great players for India, but are difficult to look at their fitness and form as they only play a format.
“Rohit and Virat have been a great player over the years, but if you are playing just one format of the game, I believe the selectors need to take a call on it. I think you can’t know the form and fitness of such players or do not judge them as they have a long pruning after the last game. It is very difficult to assess their form and fitness.”
Dilip Vengsarkar also said that the selection committee chose Rohit and Kohli primarily for Australia Odis due to their previous success. He said:
“Rohit and Virat have probably been chosen because of their great record. They have been a great player and have done Yoman service for Indian cricket, won many matches in all formats of the game.”
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It is really up to the selectors whether they want to live with Rohit and Virat – Dilip Vengsarkar
Dilip Vengsarkar further said how the number of ODIs being played has decreased significantly. He said:
“But since they are not playing Test match cricket as well as T20, and only a format, playing a one-day match, which is not played many times during the season, it is very difficult to gauge their look and fitness. But since they have been chosen, the selectors may have investigated, although I don’t know how.”
The Indian legend also indirectly asked the selection committee to bend towards all format players and to move forward with Rohit and Kohli.
“It is really up to the selectors whether they want to live with Rohit and Virat or see the opportunity to players who are available for all formats of the game. It depends on how they see Indian cricket further.”
